-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Cicely Tyson 's return to Broadway after three decades earned the actress a Tony on Sunday night .

Tyson 's acceptance speech for best actress in a play was an emotional highlight of the American Theatre Wing 's 67th annual Tony Awards broadcast live from New York 's Radio City Music Hall .

Pop singer Cyndi Lauper won a Tony for writing the 15-song score for `` Kinky Boots , '' which led the night with six Tonys .

Neil Patrick Harris did n't carry home a trophy , but he did carry the show in his fourth year as a singing-dancing host .

Harris ' opening number included scores of performers from current Broadway shows -- and a cameo by boxer Mike Tyson , who stars in his one-man show `` Undisputed , '' singing and dancing in a white tux .

His musical tribute to Broadway , which has been a trademark for Harris , including a disappearing trick straight out of David Copperfield 's Vegas show .

`` We sing live eight shows a week , check it , '' Harris sang . `` We do n't need close ups to prove we 're singing live . ''

Harris did provide a gross-out moment by tongue-kissing Sandy , the dog from `` Annie . ''

`` You do know I 'm in a relationship , right ? '' he said to the dog .

It appeared to be an unrehearsed moment spurred by Sandy 's affectionate licking of Harris ' face .

Harris ended the show with another trademark -- a closing `` Tony hits lists '' rap written as the show progressed .

Tyson 's elegant acceptance was at the top of the list .

Her best actress Tony is for her portrayal of a widow returning to her hometown in `` The Trip to Bountiful . ''

`` It 's been 30 years since I stood on stage , '' Tyson said . `` I really did n't think it would happen again in my lifetime and I was pretty comfortable with that , except that I had this burning desire to do just one more . One more great role , I said . I did n't want to be greedy . I just wanted one more , and it came to me with no effort on my part . ''

She did n't miss a beat when the orchestra began playing `` Give My Regards to Broadway '' -- the musical cue that her 75 seconds was up .

`` Please wrap it up , it says , '' she said . `` Well , that 's exactly what you did with me . You wrapped me up in your arms after 30 years and now I can go home with a Tony . ''

Tyson is 79 , according to her official biography . Some news reports put her age at 88 .

Lauper 's Tony win puts her in the exclusive `` G.E.T. '' club of performers who have a Grammy , Emmy and Tony . `` I ca n't say I was n't practicing in front of the shower curtain for a couple days for this speech , '' she said . `` I want to thank Broadway . ''

Lauper also performed `` True Colors '' while surrounded by candles for the show 's `` in memorium '' tribute to theater veterans who died in the past year .

`` Kinky Boots '' star Billy Porter won best actor in a musical for his role as a drag queen in a shoe factory .

If it had been a category , Porter also would have won for most excited acceptance speech , in which he said seeing `` Dreamgirls '' as a child was a big inspiration for his career .

Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks brought Hollywood star power to the theater , but his `` Lucky Guy '' role -- nominated for best actor in a play -- was not lucky enough to win .

Tracy Letts , who already had a Tony as a playwright , won the category for playing George in the revival of `` Who 's Afraid of Virginia Woolf ? ''

While `` Motown The Musical '' lost out in all four categories for which it was nominated , the show likely gained fans with the musical medley performed by its cast during the Tony Awards . It included a spot-on replica of a young Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 .

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Cyndi Lauper gets a Tony to go with her Grammys and Emmy

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Lauper 's `` Kinky Boots '' wins big with six Tonys Sunday night

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Neil Patrick Harris carries the show with song , dance and kissing a do

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`` I can go home with a Tony , '' Cicely Tyson says